title: Predictive factors for different subgroups of central lymph node metastasis in unilateral papillary thyroid carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate the incidence rates and risk factors for different subgroups of central neck lymph node (LN) metastasis (prelaryngeal, ipsilateral paratracheal, pretracheal, and contralateral paratracheal) in unilateral papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients with clinically negative neck nodes (cN0).
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 184 patients from 2007 to 2009. The relationships between different subgroups of LN metastasis and clinical pathological factors were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence rates of different central LN metastases were diverse. Multivariate analysis indicated that lymphovascular invasion, perithyroidal invasion, and tumor size were risk factors for ipsilateral paratracheal central LN metastasis; tumor size was an independent risk factor for pretracheal central LN metastasis, and pretracheal or/and ipsilateral paratracheal central LN metastasis were risk factors for contralateral paratracheal central LN metastasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The extent of elective central LN dissection (CLND) should be decided based on different clinical pathological factors in cN0 PTC patients. Moreover, elective prelaryngeal CLND may be unnecessary.
authors.affiliation: ENT and Oral Cavity Ward, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Susheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Xionghui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Yuanjing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Qingtao
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Shenshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D055815:Young Adult